Peeking Under the Covers

Chapter 8 continued... For the last time, Suzy wandered through the apartment wanting to carry with her a final image of her home, looking at all the objects, even the smallest and most insignificant, whose appearance was so familiar to her. She stopped in her little room, where she had so often fallen asleep careless and happy, and in her mother’s room, as well. With her hands clasped as in a church steeple, she glanced inside. She searched on the mantelpiece for the miniatures of departed relatives whom she had so often admired as a little girl – the iridescent crystal vase always full of flowers and, in the shade of the bed, the Byzantine Virgin, with her expression of mysterious gravity, then – “Suzy, the carriage is downstairs. It's time to leave!” one of the boys shouted. She shivered. “Already…My goodness, already!” It seemed to her that something was breaking inside her, causing her sharp pain. She did not dare try to speak, for she knew well that she would burst into tears...

 Chapter 8 continued... “Are you leaving at seven o'clock, by  le train de luxe ?” Germaine asked. “I don't know,” Suzy replied indifferently. What did it matter to her what kind of train it was? She only knew one thing, and that was that it was going to take her away alone. Unshed tears filled her eyes. One would have said that the trite friendship of Mme. Arnay had awakened in Suzy a sorrowful chord, leaving her numb. Still, she led her aunt back to the doorstep of the apartment, a faint smile still wandering across her mouth. She received, with her usual good grace, the quick kiss of Madame Arnay and the warmer embrace of Germaine, who overwhelmed her with important information.             “So then, Suzy, you will write to me and tell me whether Lady Graham's receptions are lovely. Send me flowers, too, especially mimosa and tuberose, I love them. Have fun! Oh! If Gladys comes to Cannes, tell her that she is my de...